Led Zeppelin. 1969. First US tour. The image conjures up packed stadiums and legions of fans roaring for a band just beginning their meteoric rise. But what if there’s a concert from that tour that never quite happened? Or did it?
Rumors swirl around a show supposedly played at a youth center outside Washington DC. Attendees swear they were there, the energy electric. Yet, there’s no concrete proof. The band’s website dances around the issue, listing it as an “unconfirmed rumor.” Even a documentary dives into the mystery, interviewing everyone from supposed audience members to music historians.
We’re about to untangle a small thread of the truth behind Led Zeppelin’s most enigmatic concert that has, to this day, left music experts scratching their heads.
A Night of Contrasts
On January 20th, 1969, the nation witnessed the inauguration of Richard Nixon as the 37th President of the United States. Later that evening, a celebratory gala was held in his honor. Meanwhile, just 11 miles north in Wheaton, Maryland, a much different scene unfolded.
Inside a small gymnasium doubling as an event center, a small crowd of approximately 55 people gathered for a historic event: Led Zeppelin’s first ever concert in the Washington D.C. area.
This was just one week after the release of their debut album, and with Led Zeppelin concerts typically costing around $6 in 1969 (according to the Washington Post), the Wheaton show offered a bargain price of just $1 or $2. With the band still unknown to most, this intimate setting would become the stuff of legend.
A Last-Minute Gig and a Tense Encounter
The man behind the alleged Led Zeppelin concert in Wheaton was local radio DJ Barry Richards from station WHMC. Recalling the event years later to the Washington Post, Richards emphasized the unusual circumstances: “It’s unbelievable and the fact that it was a Monday night, January 20th, the night of Richard Nixon’s inauguration.” He also noted the band’s lack of popularity at the time, stating, “weren’t drawing the same crowd.”
According to Richards, the concert was a last-minute addition to Led Zeppelin’s tour schedule, meant to fill a gap between shows in Detroit and Boston. This could explain the lack of promotional materials like posters. With limited time to get the word out on his radio show, Richards admitted to a disappointing turnout. This apparently didn’t sit well with the band’s manager, Peter Grant.
Richards recounted a tense exchange with Grant in the parking lot after the show. Grant, according to Richards, was “angry” and blamed him for the poor attendance. Fearing physical retaliation, Richards offered Grant $100 for gas money to appease the disgruntled manager.
The Venue and Witness Accounts
The Wheaton Youth Center wasn’t a novice when it came to hosting up-and-coming rock acts. Bands like The Faces and The Stooges had previously graced its stage. Now, several individuals claim to have witnessed Led Zeppelin perform there on that fateful night.
However, there’s a lack of concrete evidence to support these claims. Admission seemingly involved a hand stamp instead of physical tickets, which explains the absence of stubs. Despite this, Sharon Ward Ellis, the former director of the youth center, remained skeptical, telling the Washington Post, “If Led Zeppelin was here, I don’t remember.”
Questions linger even among those who claim attendance. Louder Sound profiled Adrienne Ledford, a supposed concertgoer, who recounted ditching her Christian doctrine class and hitchhiking through the cold to reach the venue. Interestingly, Led Zeppelin had just wrapped up a string of shows in Los Angeles and San Francisco earlier that month.
An Unintended Discovery That Led To A Documentary
The mystery of Led Zeppelin’s supposed Wheaton gig sparked a documentary by filmmaker Jeff Krulik, known for Heavy Metal Parking Lot. While initially focusing on Maryland’s Woodstock-esque Laurel Pop Festival, Krulik stumbled upon the rumored concert. Intrigued, he shifted gears and crafted a film titled Led Zeppelin Played Here.
Released in 2013, the documentary explored the conflicting stories surrounding the event. Krulik even noted inconsistencies in interviews, stating to the Washington Post, “There’s people who lived right there who don’t remember it.” Music rights issues prevented an official release, but the film found an audience at film festivals.
Adding another twist, local radio station WHMC began playing “Communication Breakdown” just days after the supposed concert. This detail resonated with Ledford, who recalled to Louder Sound, “People started talking about this band, and I said we just saw them at the youth center!” The song’s sudden popularity fueled speculation, further embedding the concert in local lore.
Reunion and Recollections
In 2009, Krulik hosted a unique reunion at the Wheaton Youth Center – a “reunion of people who attended an event that may not have occurred”, as the Washington Post phrased it. Over 100 people showed up, with a mix of supposed attendees, curious fans, local musicians, and even those who just frequented other Wheaton shows.
The band itself offered no concrete answers. Neither guitarist Jimmy Page nor the touring manager had any memory of the gig. LedZeppelin.com even lists the Wheaton show on their 1969 tour schedule, but cautiously labels it an “unconfirmed rumor”.
Intriguingly, Krulik himself isn’t a Led Zeppelin fan, but the legend of the concert captivated him. Despite his efforts to save the youth center, it was eventually demolished and replaced with a library and recreation complex.
While Krulik couldn’t provide definitive proof in his documentary, he leans towards the concert’s legitimacy. He told WAMU.org that “Most of the stories make sense,” and some interviewees even expressed disappointment with the crowd size and acoustics. The mystery remains – a rock and roll legend, or a collective memory lapse?